The meaning of birth date – the astrological and astronomical dimensions of medieval and early modern natal charts
The meaning of birth date – the astrological and astronomical dimensions of medieval and early modern natal charts

Summary/Abstract: The date of man’s birth is the symbolic beginning of his marriage with earthly existence, and thiswas shrouded in a fog of mystery. This mystery was attempted to be known by astrologers, whohad knowledge and forecasting tools at their disposal. Such tools included birth horoscopesin their various forms (natal, rectified, anniversary). A skilful astrologer was supposedly ableto “read” the fate of the horoscope’s addressee from the arrangement of planets, zodiac signs,lunar nodes or fixed stars. And as the belief in the reliability of these predictions was great, so was the demand for horoscopes and the services of astrologers. It is thanks to the fortunatelypreserved sources that we are able to investigate how great a role knowledge of the date of birthplayed in the Middle Ages and early modern era in both astrological and astronomical terms.

• Details
• Contents